Prolific comedy creator David Wain (humid hot american summer) spins the joke machine and brings together a bunch of funny people from his past cast for a naughty, happy-go-lucky romp Gail Daughtry and Celebrity Sex Pass.
Consistently fast-paced and full of gags, the film, directed by Wayne, who co-wrote the screenplay with fellow comedian Ken Marino, doesn’t lack for humorous gonzo energy. Often what’s missing is wit and cleverness, a little space to let the jokes sink in instead of beating the audience over the head with every gag.
There are several moments in the film where characters stop and admire their own jokes, which I didn’t find funny at first. But the movie never stops trying its best to be zany and whimsical, with punches, jokes, and shocking swear words that lead to laughs.
The effort will be chronicled in the Zoey Deutch starrer, in which Gail, from the titular small town of Kansan, becomes engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Tom (Michael Cassidy). Hopelessly in love, the couple grants each other the proverbial free sex pass, just in case they happen to run into each other’s favorite celebrity.
At first, it’s just a topic of light-hearted gossip at the salon where Gail works as a stylist with her sassy gay black friend Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Reilly, making the most of his flimsy sidekick). But when Tom meets and sleeps with his celebrity crush, Jennifer Aniston, his celebrity fantasies unexpectedly become reality.
The fact that Aniston is in Willowbrook, Kansas for her latest book reading and signing; simple dinnerwhere she’s just describing the dinner she had, which is one of the film’s sharper jokes. Subtle gags are generally more effective than big shots. Also, the celebrity cameos (of which there are many) make for some well-timed surprises, if not necessarily big laughs.
But the star power is perfect for the story, as Gail and Otto head to Hollywood for a hair show so she can seek out her celebrity crush, Jon Hamm. Encouraged by a storefront $20 psychic (Kelly Kinney) to save her relationship with Tom by the end of the game, she decides to get Ham’s ham.
The film thus coalesces into a quest, with Gail and Otto recruiting new companions to join them on their journey. Among them are talent agency intern Caleb (Ben Wang), an uninteresting but cute and spunky guy, and Vincent (Marino), a burnt-out paparazzi who happens to be the pet of the elusive beluga whale, Jon Hamm, who he chases all over Hollywood but never photographs.
Hodgepodge band also adds Ham’s former band mad men Co-star John Slattery tears the tightly wrapped image to shreds in one of the most devastating performances in film history. Slattery’s wild warrior completes the wizard-like vibe of Gale’s eccentric clothing.
The Wicked Witch of this journey through Oz is Italian crime boss Ludovica (white lotusSabrina Impacciatore). Due to a very stupid briefcase swap, she has to send Gail and her friends after a group of villains led by clumsy Sergio (Joe Lo Truglio) to retrieve the lost item.
The clashes between our heroes and Ludovica and her mob frequently end in gunfire and violence, but the action scenes are not very impactful, they are just criminal acts. Wayne saves that enthusiasm for Jon Hamm jokes and characters who pat themselves on the back for doing something funny. The Joke Machine produces a winner less than half the time, but it rarely slows down.
Gail Daughtry and Celebrity Sex Pass (★★☆☆☆) ‘ is rated R and is showing in theaters nationwide. visit fandango.com.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
